Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu says the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill into law will cost government some Gh¢750 million over the next five years.
This cost is in reference to the likely cost associated with the policy of establishing and operating an office for the RTI Commission in the next five years.
Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, the Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu explained that, “the overall expenditure for establishing the Right to Information Commission and its administrative cost is the total addition of all components of cost.
“These costs are the costs incurred in paying salaries to all personnel and the cost involved in acquiring logistics, maintaining assets and rent as well as the cost of employing the Executive Secretary to efficiently manage and operate the office,” he said.
“The total cost for the next five years in present-day value is estimated at ¢750,746,327.48,” he added.
However, that if any of the underlying assumptions should change, the estimated cost will also be adjusted.
Purpose
The object of the bill is to operationalise the constitutional right to information held by public and some private institutions, subject to exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of public interest in a democratic society.
It also seeks to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs and other related matters.
The RTI Bill was first drafted in 1999, reviewed in 2003, 2005 and 2007 but was only presented to Parliament in 2010.
It was brought back to the Sixth Parliament but could not be passed till the expiration of that Parliament on January 6, 2016.
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